David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.

21 January 2011

And so its master is brought before the Law. He presents to the court not so much an argument as an allegorical stance. One eye is open to the material world, the other directed inward. With one leg grounded and the other pegged, he is supported on crutches. He presents as an object of dependent arising.

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19 January 2011

Your correspondent has been attending Nick Cave performances regularly since the late 70s. Last night's Grinderman maelstrom at the Palace was as exciting and satisfying as any of the previous. If there's a better band in the world at the moment...